Advertising
campaign gets results for county

A 2001 advertising campaign targeting potential visitors
to Platte County showed a successful outcome, even though
Platte County was the smallest area involved in the marketing
program.

That was the word given to county commissioners during
last week's meeting by Cheryl Thorp, director of Platte
County Convention and Tourism.

"The 2001 Cooperative Marketing Program is a report
on the economic impact generated from the fiscal year
2001 cooperative marketing program," said Thorp.

The report showed that Platte County generated over $1.5
million from people who requested information about Platte
County and actually visited the area. Thorp stated that
that figure only indicates money spent by overnight visitors,
not that of day travelers.

The program, which is a 50 percent reimbursement to the
county from the Missouri Division of Tourism, involves
a conversion study to look at how many people from the
ads actually visited the area.

"For every dollar we spent in advertising, the study
determined that people who requested information and actually
visited Platte County spent $37.39 in Platte County,"
said Thorp.

Out of eight applicants involved in the program including
St. Joseph, St. Charles, Lake of the Ozarks, Springfield,
Branson, St. Louis and Kansas City, Platte County ranked
fifth in the survey. The county finished ahead of Branson,
St. Louis and Kansas City.

In other discussions, Director of Parks and Recreation
Brian Nowotny asked for the commission's approval to a
service agreement with BWR Corporation.

The agreement would provide services for preliminary
park planning services at the North Congress recreation
area in Tiffany Springs.

According to the agreement, BWR will prepare conceptual
layout plans for the park, preliminary grading plans,
and program cost estimates for the proposed recreational
amenities.

"This is a necessary step to conceptualize the recreation
plans for that site due to the multiple facilities proposed
for that site," said Nowotny.

According to Nowotny, some of the proposed uses include
an aquatics center, an outdoor recreation facility including
baseball and soccer fields, and an in-door recreation
facility.

The agreement is a partnership effort between the county,
the City of Kansas City, and the Southern Platte County
Athletic Association.

"The heart of the study will look at the two elements
of cost and space, as a preliminary step for that site,"
explained Nowotny. "It's one step that needs to be
taken to see how it will all work together."

Platte County will fund $5,000 of the study along with
the City of Kansas City contributing $2,500 toward the
study. Nowotny stated it is expected the study will be
completed in about a month.

Commissioners also approved the request for bids for
the Sharp's Station Bridge. The bid will include the construction
of a 24.5' by 322.5' steel girder structure over the Platte
River and associated road and channel work. Bids are due
by 1:30 p.m., Thursday, June 27.

A request for bids was also requested for a three-year
lease of 15 digital copiers. Bids are due by 1:30 p.m.,
June 13.

The county also approved a three year lease of a 2002
Ford Explorer from Ford Motor Credit for the sheriff's
department. The lease will cost the county $9,547.23 a
year for the three years. As a part of a municipal finance
application, the county will receive a 50 percent reimbursement
from the State when leasing a vehicle used in emergency
preparedness.

Commissioners also accepted a performance and maintenance
bond in the amount of $95,000 to ensure satisfactory completion
of grading improvements for grading and sediment and erosion
control in Stonegate. Improvements are to be completed
within one year of acceptance.